They did not receive notification of the decision ... and "education" exempts them from the transfer conditions
Students at the University of Modern Sciences are surprised at its closure
The University of Modern Sciences has set guidelines for students to pursue their studies in other universities. Photography: Patrick Castillo
Students from the University of Modern Sciences in Dubai told «UMS», «Emirates Today» that they were surprised by the decision to close the university during the current month, and did not receive any official letter from the university in this regard, except after the decision was issued by the Ministry of Education, and they indicated that they are studying specialization "Planning and development" in the final year of the Faculty of Tourism at the university, and this specialization does not exist in other universities within the country.
It was not possible to obtain a response from the university administration, while the Ministry of Education stated that the university informed students of the closure decision last April, confirming that university students are exempt from the usual conditions of transfer to other educational institutions.
In detail, the students said: Naji Al-Shehhi, Amal Al-Issa, Hajer Al-Khazraji and Nora Scotti: “A few days ago, university employees circulated news about the possible closure of the Ministry of Education, and then we reviewed the university administration, which confirmed to us that no action has been taken in this regard. After, and because we are in the last year in the Department of Planning and Development at the Faculty of Tourism, we were told: (Your affairs are good), although we are only four students studying in the final year with this major.
And they continued: "Days after meeting with the university administration, we were surprised by an e-mail message from the university informing us that the university has been closed, and there is no room for studying in it, and every student must manage his own affairs."
They added: “The university clarified in its letter that we received that the official notification of revoking the license from the University of Modern Sciences was issued by the Office of the Academic Accreditation Authority in the Ministry of Education, on August 10, 2020, according to the communication of the faculty and employees of (UMS) regarding the ministry’s intention to withdraw a license the University".
The students said that the university informed them that it had agreed with the Ministry of Academic Accreditation Authority to assist them in their future studies in other universities of their choice, on the basis that students represent the first priority at the university.
The university has set several guidelines for students, which are: That the student continues to finish the current semester, if he is currently registered for this semester, for which the final exam is scheduled to take place today (August 19), and for students to complete all financial dues owed to the university, and apply for a release request From the university in order to obtain an official transcript, and for the student to make sure to choose another university that has the programs he is studying, and to move to it, and if his major is not available at another university in the Emirates, he can request assistance from the Ministry of Education Education - Higher Education Affairs », Banner To the instructions she attached the list of recommended universities.
The students mentioned that the decision puts their future in the wind, especially that their major is not available in other universities, and this is what has been proven for them by communicating with the universities included in the list attached to the university's message to them.
The students added that their enrollment in other universities means that all that has been studied in the major of "tourism planning and development" for a period of three academic years has gone unheeded, and they have to start another major, even though they have no more than 10 subjects to obtain a bachelor's degree.
In response to a question by "Emirates Today", the Ministry of Education confirmed that "the Modern Science University, as well as the students, were informed of the intention to close last April."
She added that "a group of institutions that students can transfer to have been identified," noting that students of the Modern Science University will be excluded from the usual transfer requirements until all the courses they completed are counted, regardless of the degree of success, GPA or percentage of completed courses.
The Ministry called on students to review the University of Modern Sciences to take their records, and to communicate with any university from the list of universities they wish to transfer to, stressing that it will communicate with university educational institutions to facilitate transferring students to other universities, and with regard to the field of tourism, the Ministry confirmed that it exists in several universities in Country.
The university: responding is the responsibility of the ministry
It was not possible to obtain a response from the university administration to the questions of "Emirates Today" regarding the timing of informing students of the possibility of closing it, the reasons for the closure, and the mechanism for supporting students in obtaining places to study in other universities. The university administration was satisfied with saying: «The competent authority to respond to everything Related to its closure, is the Ministry of Education ».
- Students: Our specialty is not available in other universities .. and our future in the wind.
- “Education”: We communicate with educational institutions to facilitate transferring students to them.